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FOOTBALL JOURNAL 2012
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2012
DAILY JOURNAL
Aggies expect no letdown from 12-1 year BY BLAKE LONG
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Kelly
KOSSUTH
AGGIES
FAST FACTS
Division: 1-3A 2011 record: 12-1, 5-0 division (lost in third round of playoffs) Coach: Brian Kelly (2nd year)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chase Settlemires, Sr., DE Recorded 36 tackles and 21 sacks as a junior. Denzel Miller, Sr., RB/CB Fastest player on the team, transferred from Booneville before last season. Dillon Hughes, Sr., RT/DL The two-time state powerlifting champion in his class will lead the offensive line.
After a record-setting first year as head coach, Brian Kelly knows his team will get everybody’s best shot this season. “You run the table, you’re going to have a red dot on your back,” said Kelly. “Our kids expect that and they’ve been told that every day.” Kossuth finished the regular season undefeated and tied a school record with 12 wins last year. Even with 19 seniors gone from that team, Kelly doesn’t expect a letdown this season. “These younger guys know what it takes to win,” he said. “A lot of people are not expecting a lot out of Kossuth this year and they’ve been going at that with a chip on their shoulder this offseason wanting to be better.”
sophomore, Dickson stands at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds. Kelly will turn to Denzel Miller, the fastest player on his team, to help replace two 500-plus yard running backs. Two young quarterbacks continue to battle for the starting spot. Sophomore Weston Bobo and freshman Elijah Potts will both get reps behind center early in the season.
DEFENSE
The Aggies retained the bulk of their experience on the defensive side with six starters back for another season. Chase Settlemires, an all-division pick as a junior, anchors the line and is Kossuth’s leading returning tackler. Hughes and Elam will pull double duty DESTE LEE | DAILY JOURNAL as defensive linemen. Kossuth’s Chase Settlemires is Blake Holley and Jacob Meeks both back for his senior year after return as starters at linebacker. recording 21 sacks and 36 tackles for the Aggies last year. SPECIAL TEAMS While Kelly still has a piece or two to Hughes played a pivotal role in open- fit into the lineup on special teams, two OFFENSE ing up holes for Kossuth’s rushers last names he can rely on are Stegan Smith Seven seniors will help to fill the void year. Fellow seniors Jordan Elam and and Meeks. of nine lost offensive starters, beginning Tyler Martin join him on the line. Smith will handle the long snapping with returning first-team all-state right Ty Dickson is also expected to conwhile Meeks’ strong leg will be put to tackle Dillon Hughes. tribute as an offensive lineman. As a use in place-kicking.
Aug. 17 Aug. 24 Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26
SCHEDULE
Baldwyn 7:30 at Corinth 7:30 at Hamilton 7:30 Tishomingo County 7:30 Open at Mooreville 7:30 at Belmont* 7:30 Booneville* 7:00 Ripley* 7:00 at Alcorn Central* 7:00 Holly Springs* 7:00 *–Division 1-3A
SCOUTING REPORT
With so many new faces, Kossuth coach Brian Kelly will open up the offense a bit more this season. “We’re going to be doing a lot of motioning and shifting around from play-toplay to keep the defense on its toes,” he said … Jay Vanderford, the Aggies’ starting QB last season, has stayed close to home during the summer to help young QBs Weston Bobo and Elijah Potts develop their skills … Kossuth lost to Class 3A champion Charleston in the state quarterfinals in 2011.
Commodores begin life after Liggins BY BRANDON SPECK DAILY JOURNAL
Robertson
LAFAYETTE
COMMODORES FAST FACTS
Division: 2-4A 2011 record: 16-0 (won Class 4A state championship) Coach: Eric Robertson (1st year)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brandon Mack, Sr., QB/DB The 5-10, 175-pound senior will be limited on defense as he starts at quarterback. Alec Michael, Sr., LB Senior (6-2, 210) is a three-year starter at linebacker. Trae Williams, Sr., OT The 6-0, 240-pounder is a returning starter that line coach Eric Robertson says “needs to really be a leader with that young group.”
There is a huge difference in the Lafayette Commodores. Losing a 6-foot-3, 260-pound quarterback like Jeremy Liggins is hard to hide. The sidelines look different too though. Coach Eric Robertson enters his eighth year with the team, first as head coach. All he acquired is a 32-game win streak and a team that has won the last two Class 4A state titles. “There’s always pressure when you start talking about a streak,” Robertson said. But I think these guys just go out there expecting to win. I think these guys will step up.” Dating back three years, the Dores are 44-2 with appearances in the last three state finals.
OFFENSE
There wasn’t a lot of throwing with Liggins’ ability to run the football. There may be more of a run-pass, play action mix this season. But with D.K. Buford in the backfield, why throw it? Buford was
ter are Trae Pruitt, guards Shilo Woodard and Austin Arrington with Jordan Willms in the mix and Elliot Markuson at tight end, four of the five as seniors. Liggins, Jamel and Demarkous Dennis combined for 62 TDs last season. “We really lost some great players but I’m excited about the two guys who are going to replace them,” Robertson said.
DEFENSE
Defensively a 3-3 stack loses 340pound nose guard D.Q. Reynolds and defensive end Keeyon Tyson, both three-year starters. Defensive end Cortez Coleman is a DESTE LEE | DAILY JOURNAL returning starter. Fellow senior Alec Lafayette’s D.K. Buford turned Michael has been second on the team heads this summer when he was in tackles the last two seasons at linetimed at 4.2 in the 40-yard dash. backer. Kalen Coleman returns at Mike backer and at outside linebacker, Barry clocked at 4.2 in the 40-yard dash this is a returning starter Robertson says summer. Brandon Mack will move from “really came on toward the end of last receiver to quarterback. year.” Terrell returns at free safety. There is one returning lineman, senior Trae Williams at left tackle. Colby SPECIAL TEAMS Terrell is a returning receiver and fellow Jackson Tyler was as reliable as any senior Josh Barry played some receiver player on the field, a trait the Dores will and will be asked to fill a bigger role. look to senior Casey Vaughn to maintain. Opening practice on the line at cenJake McPhail will handle punting duties.
Aug. 17 Aug. 24 Aug. 30 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 25
SCHEDULE
Tupelo 7:30 Greenwood 7:30 at Oxford 7:30 Duval Charter (Fla.) 7:30 Shannon 7:30 at Pontotoc 7:30 at Lewisburg* 7:30 Tunica Rosa Fort* 7:00 at New Albany* 7:00 Senatobia* 7:00 at North Pontotoc* 7:00 *–Division 2-4A
SCOUTING REPORT
D.K. Buford and Brandon Mack each had more than 100 yards in the spring game ... WR/FS Colby Terrell had wrist surgery at the end of spring and will be ready the first week of August ... The Aug. 30 Crosstown Classic at Oxford will be televised on CSpire “Bright Lights” series ... Lafayette’s last regular-season loss was at Itawamba AHS on Sept. 11, 2009.
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